Help make Oakham Festival the best yet

Organisers of a new-look Oakham Festival are calling on the community to make this year’s event the best yet.

The 25th event will take place from Wednesday, June 24 to Sunday, June 28, and has an exciting variety of events including TV comedians, opera singers and live bands, meaning there really is something for everyone.

Last year, the event was cancelled after organiser Joy Everitt stepped down.

Now a new committee has come together to bring the event back with a bang.

Michelle Begy is one of the new trustees.

She said: “The new festival has been hard work but rewarding. We have tried to ensure that there is a reason for everyone to come along and enjoy it whether you are eight or 80!

“All we need now is for the people of Rutland to come on out and enjoy all that the festival has to offer.”

This year’s festival will also run in tandem with Camra’s Ale Festival and Ale Trail.

The main Ale Festival will be held at Rutland Museum with a wide selection of beers and live music every evening.

Many of the town’s pubs will form part of the ‘Ale Trail’ that you can follow around the town to sample the variety of tasty beers on offer.

The festival has undergone rebranding to make it fresh but it still upholds the same values of celebrating and promoting the enjoyment of all the arts.

Highlights of this year’s programme includes comedian Gary Delaney on Thursday, June 25, at The Grainstore.

On June 26, Oakham Castle will be the venue for a unique new show called Hip Hopera, which mixes opera with street dance and features local opera singer Caroline Trutz.

On Saturday, June 27, Rutland Concert Band will present a free Proms in the Park at Cutts Close, with donations going to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance.

This is the main day of the festival and there will also be street entertainers in the Market Place, stalls in Church Street and a family day in Cutts Close.

There will also be arts and crafts workshops, theatre workshop for children, ghost walk, and even a Tai Chi workout!

The closing performance of the festival will be a recital from world-renowned tenor John Graham Hall at Oakham School Chapel.

The main sponsors of the event are The Oil Tank Company and Arts for Rutland, while there has also been valuable support from local businesses and DUO Design.

Tickets for some events are limited so people are advised to book early.

For information on events and booking details visit www.oakhamfestival.co.uk.